Alfie is 17 weeks old and currently fed on Burns cainine extra with some of the wet food mixed in. He is on the highest for his weight but I can't seem to get him filled!!! I have tried the high energy lamb food but he leaves the kibble!! I have supplemented his meals with rice/pasta/veg previously but surely the reccomended amounts should be enough?? Should I change him to another food like James Wellbeloved? Or royal Canin? This is our first pup so any suggestions will be appreciated!! TIA Louise

How many times a day are you feeding ?
what amount are you feeding at each meal ?
How much running  around /free play is pup doing in own garden ?
Are you walking or exercising pup ?

It's reccomended that he gets up to 20g per kilo he weighs. So 200g split between 3 meals a day. He's out about 1 hr walking, split into 3 small walks with him still being young, and he can run around/ free play for a couple of hours. He gets treats too but I try to limit these.

You shouldn't be walking him this much at his age. The recommended excercise is five minute per every month of his life. Upto about 18 months old. Reduce the excercise and subsitutewitj training and games and you will hopefully see his appetite reduce because he won't be burning off so much :-)

I have a 10 week old puppy of a similar size breed who normally do well on quite little food adn sahe is getting 250g, compared to 200g when they are adult.

I never go by the feeding guides, some brands say far too much some not enough and some are fairly accurate.

I have always fed puppies under about 4 or 5 months to appetite as this is the fastest growing stage so even if they get plump, you can easily let them grow into their weight by not increasing teh amount until they feel right again.

If your over feeding they will also have looser stools, and cutting back a bit usually returns things to normal.

To tell if they are getting the right amount get into the habit of feeling the puppy, they should feel well covered but not rolling in fat.  Even pups in the smae litter can vary in how much food each needs to grow, and then maintain condition.

I agree pup is getting too much formal walking on top of play.

Thanks. I'll try that. I've also noticed a lot less poop recently. Will try him with more dried and keep an eye on it. The vet recommended 3 walks of 15-20 mins. I'll reduce than and try to find a balance. Thank you all

With all due respect vets are not breeders ...most have never whelped their own litters , some don't even own dogs . As its a working breed the vet probably thinks 'wear it out '. Free play in the garden , bit of training ,  hide and seek , games are enough . Plenty of rest for a growing pup .I am not going to preach diet but personally I do not feed just dried pellets when rearing . I feed meat  at least for one meal ...raw minced tripe or raw beef mince .

Actually two or three 15-minute walks a day is fine at four months of age - important to get out and about and experience the sights and sounds of the big world.

Included that in bit of training , socialisation is important but the school run /walk is not ! The pup may go to a puppy training /citizenship class to take in all that . Enough free play  should replace pavement work ....socialisation is different in my book .

> The pup may go to a puppy training /citizenship class to take in all that .

Indeed, but he can take a lot more in by more regular outings than that. 
I agree with JG and the vet, this sounds like a very good exercise/socialisation routine to me.
I think the fact that he has stipulated splitting the outings shows he does know a thing or two :) and I doubt very much it was said with the intention of tiring pup out as this level of walking should be taken in the stride of a working breed even at this age.

Sorry ...agree with LJS ..5 min rule. 20 mins at 4 mths old ..split into maybe two 10 minute  outings .Obviously my dislike of vets giving general rearing/training advice shows ! The original query was to do with diet ...balance is important , with socialisation.I own bigger breeds and am stricter about pavement pounding.

> Obviously my dislike of vets giving general rearing/training advice shows !

Well, I suppose they are as entitled to their opinion as the rest of us :)
I think "pavement pounding" is rather emotive language.  The OP has not stated all the outings are on a pavement but, if my experience of walking a young puppy is anything to go by, you don't get to do much "pounding" :)

>The pup may go to a puppy training /citizenship class to take in all that

Sorry, but I disagree that a weekly training class is anything like enough experience for socialisation. Where are the cows, the horses, the bicycles, the trains, the buses, the crowds? Pup really needs to be out and about in the real world. The school run is excellent as long as the owner doesn't allow the pup to be overwhelmed by squealing excited children.